U.S. Ice Dance 2018-19 season news & updates

[Dobre]

Kana & Chris had great chemistry. They were a team that found each other late (in his career). And disbanded too quickly.

But I also don't think they would ever have gotten where they did if he and Cathy hadn't put in all those years together and on the international scene before Kana even went into dance.

 

[Donut Knoll]

Breaking up a team must be very difficult, sibs or not, but especially sibs.
Only for the sake of sport/win/resources, sometimes sooner/younger would be better is how it seems to me.
Every country probably has their own approach, I imagine, and style of parenting for that matter!
There are so few entry points for kids in ice dance, compared to singles.
Hopefully more boys will be inspired!

 

[Dobre]

I would think that growing a team and helping them improve over the long haul would be the more difficult task. And the more rewarding one.

 

[Donut Knoll]

I would think that growing a team and helping them improve over the long haul would be the more difficult task. And the more rewarding one.

I've always felt this sport is harder on parents than it is on the kids.

 

[chameleonster]

Meanwhile some personal news from Karina Manta:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYGt4bFwif/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1scekk6hmy9or

http://thefinersports.com/2018/10/karina-manta-keeps-ice-dance-queer/

Can't wait to see them make their GP debut in a couple weeks!

 

[oleada]

Meanwhile some personal news from Karina Manta:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYGt4bFwif/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1scekk6hmy9or

http://thefinersports.com/2018/10/karina-manta-keeps-ice-dance-queer/

Can't wait to see them make their GP debut in a couple weeks!

That’s great! I think she is the first active female skater to come out. I’m glad she finally felt comfortable doing so.

 

[Ena Grins]

Props to Karina for her bravery in coming out! We're lucky to have her in this sport.

And that blog post is

 

[Donut Knoll]

I really love some sibling teams - the Shibs and really the Parsons are growing on me - but Chris Reed is an interesting example to me. When he skated with his sister, I'm sorry to say, I just found him a total yawn. They seemed like lovely people but they were my "fridge break" as Uncle Dick would say. However, I was surprised by how quickly I found him to gel with Kana Muramoto and they became a really interesting team for me. I would say I even became their fan. I was very disappointed with their split this summer.

So, I don't know, I think a lot depends on the specific dynamics of the sibling relationship and the creativity of their team & choreographer.

Sorry, back to US Ice Dance I guess?? I have been really blown away by the Browns this year. Disappointed the Greens have not been able to compete. I am kind of obsessed with the idea of a Browns vs. Greens rivalry.

Kidding right? What ever happened to paying your dues? Brown vs Green I mean.
Go Parsons.

 

[Wyliefan]

A Brown vs. Green rivalry is going to mean I'll constantly have "I have brown sandwiches or green sandwiches" going through my head for years.

 

[Donut Knoll]

I still think.
I still think too many bro/sis teams look like a 3 legged race, and allowing untested
(with possibly overrated futures) newbies to bump up against teams grooming to be mature skaters
is ludicrist. Too many years allowed to skate at the junior level?
Looks like the Russian teams are more mature teams to me, even if I don't care for how they treat females
with their choreography. I prefer strong female characters.

 

[laviemn]

I still think.
I still think too many bro/sis teams look like a 3 legged race, and allowing untested
(with possibly overrated futures) newbies to bump up against teams grooming to be mature skaters
is ludicrist. Too many years allowed to skate at the junior level?

With the current depth of US ice dance, what choices do the skaters have? Look at the M/C, Parsons, C/P doing as many Challengers as possible because they know their seasons might end in January. This could be their reality for years if the current top 3 hold their ground. And then that affects the next crop of incoming seniors.

 

[VGThuy]

I still think.
I still think too many bro/sis teams look like a 3 legged race, and allowing untested
(with possibly overrated futures) newbies to bump up against teams grooming to be mature skaters
is ludicrist. Too many years allowed to skate at the junior level?
Looks like the Russian teams are more mature teams to me, even if I don't care for how they treat females
with their choreography. I prefer strong female characters.

I’m not sure what you are saying here.

 

[Dobre]

Always, the best way to "convince" someone else to move up is to be good enough to push them out yourself. No one likes to lose to a younger team.

I still think.
I still think too many bro/sis teams look like a 3 legged race

This is not their problem. If there are more successful sibling teams in the U.S., they won't be the only ones for long. (Technically, of course, they aren't now. I believe there are at least 2-3 international sibling teams from other countries on the JGP this season).

I prefer strong female characters.

I love strong female characters. (Moulin Rouge and Christine from Phantom do not qualify, IMO). I wish there was more character-oriented choreography in North American ice dance, period; and I feel like it's something North American commentators and dance fans need to open their minds up to a bit more. It isn't every dance team's forte; but this is one of the things I love about McNamara & Carpenter. Let Lorraine play mountain trolls and water witches and Diana of the hunt. Generic smiles be damned.

A number of the Russian teams this season and last season look older because they are older. They, too, have been waiting for McNamara & Carpenter, the Parsons, Carreira & Ponomarenko, and their own top teams to move up.

 

[aftershocks]

Props to Karina for her bravery in coming out! We're lucky to have her in this sport.

And that blog post is

ITA. Thanks to Karina Manta for taking this step in such a sweet, forthright and creative way. I've always enjoyed Manta/Johnson's skating! I will continue to enjoy watching their skating journey. it's nice to know more about who Karina is, but her revelations don't affect anything about how I view and admire her skating. It is great though that her openness will surely provide inspiration to others of all ages, athletes and non-athletes alike. And it is a bold step for a female to take in the sport of figure skating! Kudos to Karina for her courage!

 

[breathesgelatin]

Kidding right? What ever happened to paying your dues? Brown vs Green I mean.
Go Parsons.

No, I'm not kidding. The Parsons aren't competing against the Browns and Greens.

Seems to me like the US Junior field is pretty open this year, actually. All the teams feel fresh to me and no one seems to have "paid their dues" and be a lock for anything.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Big time Congrats to Avonley and Vadym wining the SP just now.

I am unfamiliar with them but will be watching both their JGP events today.

They have a respectable lead going into the Free!

BTW how old are they? Will they stay junior?

 

[Sylvia]

BTW how old are they? Will they stay junior?

Most likely - Avonley will turn 16 in November and Vadym will be 17 later this month: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00103338.htm

Alina Efimova and Alexander Petrov, currently in 7th (52.78) in the RD, had a solid JGP debut today (he is 20 so this is his final season of ISU junior age eligibility): http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102641.htm

 

[Dobre]

The junior team that paid their dues is sitting out the season.

Chloe & Logan.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Congrats to Avonley and Vadym for a new season best in free of 100.22 winning the gold.

Off to the JGP Final.

Congrats to them both!!!!!

 

[Lara111]

implausible

 

[shuilee]

Does Vadym Kolesnik have his US citizenship for 2022 Olympics? My goodnes Nguyen & Kolesnik are incredible! They just got the "it" factor that I don't see from the other young US dance teams. I could see them leapfrog the likes of M&C, P&P, C&P by 2021 or 2022 and grab that 3rd spot.

 

[Colonel Green]

Does Vadym Kolesnik have his US citizenship for 2022 Olympics?

He's not old enough to even apply yet.

 

[Lara111]

Does Vadym Kolesnik have his US citizenship for 2022 Olympics? My goodnes Nguyen & Kolesnik are incredible! They just got the "it" factor that I don't see from the other young US dance teams. I could see them leapfrog the likes of M&C, P&P, C&P by 2021 or 2022 and grab that 3rd spot.

 

[Sylvia]

JGP Slovenia results/videos - a solid JGP debut by Efimova/Petrov as well!

GOLD - Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA 165.63 1 (65.41) [RD Video] 1 (100.22) [FD Video]
6th - Alina EFIMOVA / Alexander PETROV USA 131.50 7 (52.78) [RD Video] 6 (78.72) [FD Video]

ETA ISU SB total scores of the U.S. Junior dance teams before this week's JGP in Slovenia:

16 161.84 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
32 148.51 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
46 137.42 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
49 135.78 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018 - scheduled for #7 ARM
62 127.58 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
68 124.75 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018 - - scheduled for #7 ARM
73 123.02 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
75 122.09 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018

Junior teams' ISU SB Rhythm Dance scores:
63.40 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
59.92 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
56.12 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018
55.97 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
55.47 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
50.80 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
46.83 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
46.55 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018

Junior teams' ISU SB Free Dance scores:
98.44 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
88.59 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
81.45 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
79.66 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018
76.78 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
76.19 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
75.54 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
69.28 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018

 

[VGThuy]

implausible

What's implausible?

 

[Donut Knoll]

No, I'm not kidding. The Parsons aren't competing against the Browns and Greens.

Seems to me like the US Junior field is pretty open this year, actually. All the teams feel fresh to me and no one seems to have "paid their dues" and be a lock for anything.

No sorry, I meant Browns haven't paid their dues v. Greens
and I like the Senior Parson's.

 

[Lara111]

What's implausible?

This situation with N/K win over Shevchenko/Eremenko. S/E is a mile better ...

 

[Donut Knoll]

JGP Slovenia results/videos - a solid JGP debut by Efimova/Petrov as well!

GOLD - Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA 165.63 1 (65.41) [RD Video] 1 (100.22) [FD Video]
6th - Alina EFIMOVA / Alexander PETROV USA 131.50 7 (52.78) [RD Video] 6 (78.72) [FD Video]

ETA ISU SB total scores of the U.S. Junior dance teams before this week's JGP in Slovenia:

16 161.84 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
32 148.51 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
46 137.42 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
49 135.78 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018 - scheduled for #7 ARM
62 127.58 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
68 124.75 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018 - - scheduled for #7 ARM
73 123.02 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
75 122.09 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018

Junior teams' ISU SB Rhythm Dance scores:
63.40 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
59.92 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
56.12 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018
55.97 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
55.47 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
50.80 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
46.83 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
46.55 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018

Junior teams' ISU SB Free Dance scores:
98.44 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
88.59 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
81.45 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
79.66 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018
76.78 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
76.19 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
75.54 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
69.28 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018

 

[Donut Knoll]

JGP Slovenia results/videos - a solid JGP debut by Efimova/Petrov as well!

GOLD - Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA 165.63 1 (65.41) [RD Video] 1 (100.22) [FD Video]
6th - Alina EFIMOVA / Alexander PETROV USA 131.50 7 (52.78) [RD Video] 6 (78.72) [FD Video]

ETA ISU SB total scores of the U.S. Junior dance teams before this week's JGP in Slovenia:

16 161.84 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
32 148.51 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
46 137.42 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
49 135.78 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018 - scheduled for #7 ARM
62 127.58 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
68 124.75 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018 - - scheduled for #7 ARM
73 123.02 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
75 122.09 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018

Junior teams' ISU SB Rhythm Dance scores:
63.40 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
59.92 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
56.12 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018
55.97 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
55.47 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
50.80 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
46.83 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
46.55 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018

Junior teams' ISU SB Free Dance scores:
98.44 Avonley NGUYEN / Vadym KOLESNIK USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018
88.59 Eliana GROPMAN / Ian SOMERVILLE USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
81.45 Sophia ELDER / Christopher ELDER USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
79.66 Emma GUNTER / Caleb WEIN USA ISU JGP Canada 2018
76.78 Katarina WOLFKOSTIN / Howard ZHAO USA ISU JGP Czech Skate 2018
76.19 Jocelyn HAINES / James KOSZUTA USA ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2018
75.54 Katarina DELCAMP / Maxwell GART USA ISU JGP Bratislava 2018
69.28 Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN USA ISU JGP Amber Cup 2018

It has been stated here that scores for Linz Austria were "low and tight."

 

[Sylvia]

I was just compiling JGP scores to date; these numbers are not "set in stone" and are not a predictor for Nationals.